A UAE offshore company is a tax-efficient, internationally recognised vehicle for holding assets, owning intellectual property, and running global trade — without a physical office or UAE trading activity. One Desk acts as your registered agent across all three UAE offshore jurisdictions, structuring your company correctly from day one and guiding you through the all-important banking stage.
|
Service |
Estimated Pricing |
Notes |
|
RAK ICC incorporation (year 1, all-in) |
AED 9,000 – 14,000 |
Government + agent + documents |
|
JAFZA Offshore incorporation (year 1, all-in) |
AED 14,000 – 20,000 |
Eligible for Dubai property ownership |
|
Ajman Offshore incorporation (year 1) |
AED 7,000 – 11,000 |
Most economical jurisdiction |
|
Annual renewal (registered agent + government) |
AED 5,000 – 9,000 |
Jurisdiction dependent |
|
Bank account introduction |
AED 3,000 – 7,500 |
Subject to bank approval |
|
ESR notification / report filing |
AED 2,000 – 6,000 |
Where a relevant activity applies |
|
UBO register maintenance |
AED 1,000 – 2,500 |
Per filing or update |
|
Share transfer / amendment |
AED 1,500 – 4,000 |
Plus registry fees |
A legal entity registered with one of three UAE offshore registries — RAK ICC, JAFZA Offshore, or Ajman Offshore. It is designed for international business: it cannot trade within the UAE market, rent office space under its own name, or sponsor residence visas. It receives a certificate of incorporation rather than a trade licence.
RAK ICC is faster and significantly cheaper, needs only one shareholder and one director, and is the stronger choice for holding companies, IP ownership and wealth structuring. JAFZA Offshore is the premium option: it carries strong international recognition, generally has the best banking acceptance, and is the only UAE offshore structure that can own freehold property in Dubai (with DLD approval). Ajman Offshore is the budget option.
No. UAE offshore companies cannot sponsor employee or investor visas. If you need UAE residency, you need a free zone or mainland company. One exception worth noting is RAK ICC’s “Premium” product, which can hold 100% of a RAKEZ free zone company that in turn sponsors visas — a hybrid structure we can advise on.
No. Conducting business on the UAE mainland would breach the terms of offshore status and create UAE-sourced income taxable at 9%. Offshore companies are for international activity; for domestic operations you need a mainland or free zone licence.
Offshore companies are generally exempt on qualifying non-UAE income, but they must still register with the FTA via EmaraTax within three months of incorporation and meet their filing obligations. Exemption is conditional on having no UAE nexus and complying with ESR.
Where the company conducts a “relevant activity” (such as holding, IP, finance, or headquarters activities), it must file ESR notifications and, where applicable, ESR reports demonstrating adequate substance. Pure holding companies face lighter requirements. Penalties for non-compliance start at AED 50,000 and rise to AED 400,000 for a second failure.